Act 4.
Dragons:
The Dragons in these documents can be seen as representatives of the elements. So we encounter air dragons, fire dragons, etc. etc. etc.
The Champion, in encountering these dragons, is confronting nature in its raw form. So in telling these tales the listener is given to believe that he can overcome the hardships that nature throws at them. They are encouraged by the Champion’s story to not loose hope. If she can do it so can you. The fantastical nature only lends a supernatural air to the stories, thus making them more entertaining and giving them more impact. More likely the Champion was fending off some wild lizard or some such animal and this was exaggerated in the retelling.
It is interesting to note that in the documents there is one reference to a dragon that is not based on the elements. This one seems to be a dragon made of spiritual energy of indeterminate origin. He is unique in that he derives sustenance from the magical ether he takes from mages, and must sleep for long periods of time. I am unsure of his insertion into these tales, except perhaps as a boogieman type creature for mages.
Be good or the Spirit Dragon will get you.
"Queen’s Champion" PP. 89
"What destiny is this, that makes you chase one lone person across such a vast distance?" asked the Queen.
"Why the one where I am able to finally break my chains." said Toukon.
"We do not understand." she said.
The Dragon’s tail lashed out at the Queen and her hand maid.
Susan cried out and clung to the Queen. The Queen braced for the impact trying to get herself between the tail and Susan.
The tail passed right through the two of them as if through nothing.
"Now do you understand?" asked Toukon.
"You are not of this world." said the Queen.
"And yet I am." he continued. "But unlike my brethren who are made up of this world, I am not. I can affect this world but must expend energy to do so. Like this."
He reached his claw out to the Queen, and this time she noticed that as it came closer, its texture seemed to change. Whereas before it seemed the dragon was pale and translucent, this time the skin became a deep black and as he touched her she could feel the cold of the longest winter night.
She shivered at his touch.
Toukon chuckled.
"Also unlike my brethren, I have no energy of my own." he said. "A fire dragon has the eternal flame inside of him, the air dragon has his perpetual storm in him, all have there own true strength, but I have nothing, and must take other’s strength to live."
"This still does not answer the question as to why you have come to our lands." she said recovering from the shock.
"I came looking for the mage who ran away to here."
"Ran away?"
"She was told to come here by a reader. I believe he told her that because he saw me in her future. He may not have told her that."
"Surely you cannot be saying that you have to pick who you are going to eat, are you?" asked the Queen.
"No." he answered. "But just like humans, magic evolves. And I saw that one day there would be a mage who would give me my own energy, my heart if you will. Then I would never need to sleep and would always be solid."
"And you believe the one you look for here, is that one."
"I know she is. I smelt her when she crossed the border, that is why I woke early. She is finally here and I am going to be free."
"But she acts just like any other mag..." the Queen stooped herself too late.
"You idiot." she told herself.
Toukon smiled.
"I knew she came here. Where is she?"
"She seems no more special than any of our other mages." she said, buying some time. "How can you be sure she is the one?"
"Because I can feel that she is just like me, she is not like the other mages." He smiled even wider. "Her magic does not exactly come from the same source as the others."
"Where does it come from?" she asked.
"If I were to tell you, it would frighten you." he said with a laugh. "You’d best let me take care of her. If I don’t you may never be safe."
"She has shown us nothing to be worried about. We believe you are just trying to frighten us to reveal her whereabouts. We will not."
"I only tell you the truth." he said. "But if you don’t tell me, I will take this place apart to find her. I weary of this existence and long for a more suitable one."
"That will do you no good." she said.
She had others to worry about, and dared not hold off any longer. She just hoped she had given them enough time.
"She left the castle as soon as she was alerted to your presence." she told him. "She did not wish to put any others in danger. Not the act of someone I should be worried about."
"People change over time." he said.
He quickly circled the castle and return to the tower.
"Her presence is not here. But I will find her, I think I have a scent but it is mixed in with others. If there are others, they best not get in my way."
"They will not be as easy as you think." said the Queen.
"We will see." said Toukon. "Good day your Majesty."
He flew off.
The Queen relaxed, and turned to her hand maid.
"Susan." she said. "You will speak of nothing that was said here. Do you understand?"
"Yes my Queen." answered Susan. "But is not my Queen worried of what the dragon said of the mage. If she should return..."
The Queen cut her off.
"We do not believe what he said, and so should you."
"Yes my Queen."
They re-entered the castle, but in the back of the Queen’s mind the dragon’s words repeated.
Linda and the others had emerged from the tunnel onto a small hill near the village. The entrance was hidden with strategically placed bushes.
"Where to now?" asked Margaret.
"Away from the village." said Linda.
They looked over at Mikako, whose nose was still buried in her book.
She had been that way ever since entering the tunnel. As the others stumbled on loose rock and brick picking their way slowly even with the help of a torch, Mikako did not seem to have any trouble knowing where to step, without her eyes ever leaving the page.
"She’s beginning to bother me." said Margaret. "Can’t she do anything like a normal person?"
"It is perfectly normal for someone to use the abilities they were given no matter how others perceive them." said Mikako without looking up.
"That may be." replied Margaret. "But my brother is also a full mage and even he would have troubles in there."
"I am not your brother."
"That is true."
"Enough chatting." said Linda.
She pointed to the castle, where they could all see a dragon near the north tower.
"She is buying us some time. I suggest we use it."
"Yes, Champion." said Mikako.
"Yes, Champion." said Margaret, stuffing her hair back under her helm.
Linda walked deeper into the forest, towards the mountains, where she hopped they could hide in the many caves found there.
The others followed in silence.